Ratchet wrench



NOV' 20, 1934 T. o. RUEB 1,981,526.

RATCHET WRENCH Filed Dec. '7, 1933 Patented Nov. 2l?, 1934 UNTED STATES meM-mmmw RATCHET VJRENCH Theodore 0. Rueb, Chicago, 1li., assignor to Sherman-Klove Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware Application December 7, 1933,

serial No. 701,261

5 claims. (o1. :i1- 63) While this invention relates particularly to ratchet wrenches, it comprises in general a tool having a handle and a relatively rotatable head which may be utilized for turning wrench sockets or other devices such as screw drivers, drills, or the like. It relates particularly to a device of this lrind having a reversible head whereby the driven member may be rotated in either direction.

The objects of this invention are to provide an improved tool of the ratchet type having a reversible driving element and means for readily adjusting the same so that it may be driven in one or the other direction; to provide means which may be readily operated by the thumb of the user for actuating the reversing mechanism; to provide a ratchet wrench having a rotatable head or driving member and means for conveniently fastening the member rotatably in its bearing ring or support; to provide a ratchet wrench or the like, whichv will be particularly simple in construction and which may be cheaply made while at the same time being eicient and durable in operation; and to provide such other advantages and improvements as will apirorn the following description.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating this invention,

Figure l is a side View;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 and shown on an enlarged scale;

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line 1 -4 of Figure 2; and

5 is a sectional View similar to Figure 4 but showing the ratchet mechanism adjusted to reverse position.

The handle 6 is provided with a socket or barrel 7 which may be formed integrally therewith or attached thereto in any suitable manner. The barrel or cylinder 7 has a longitudinal bore 8 and at about midway of the length thereof is provided with an annular series of teeth or corrugations 9. A turning head or member 10 is rotatably mounted in the barrel and is of approximately the same length. This head is provided with any suitable means for connecting the same with the articles to be turned, such as a projection ll or" the type commonly used for turning a wrench socket as indicated at 12.

head 10 securely fastened in the barrel and held against longitudinal movement by means of a ring 13 which engages with a slot 14 in the head in an oppositely disposed slot l5 in the barrel. The slot lll is of sufficient depth so that the ring may be compressed therein and will enter the bore 8 and will spring out to its locking position as shown in Figures 2r and 3. By means of this fastening arrangement the head is securely fastened in position Without the necessity of caps or covers or other devices such as commonly used for this purpose.

The head lo has a transverse channel or recess 16 in which is mounted` a pawl 17 of approximately triangular shape with ratchet teeth 18 and 19 at opposite apexes which are adapted to coact with the teeth 9 to provide the ratchet turning movement. The pawl 17 is pivotally mounted on a pin 20 which fits in a longitudinal bore or hole in the head, as shown in Figure 2, so that both ends of the pin are supported.

A thumb disc or cap 21 is rotatably attached to the driving head by means of a shouldered screw 22. This disc has a knurled edge as shown at 23 so that it can be conveniently turned by the thumb of the user and is preferably mounted so that it will normally turn freely. Thisdisc extends out beyond the periphery of the adjacent portion of the head and serves to cover the end of the head and parts mounted therein, as Well as covering the joint or slot between the barrel and head.

In order to adjust the pawl 17 so as to Abring the respective toothed ends into operative position, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the pawl is provided with a pin or abutment 24 which extends upwardly into a slot or channel 25 formed between the reduced upper end of the head and the bore of the barrel. Pins or abutments 26 and 27 project downwardly from the disc 21 into the groove or channel 25, these pins being spaced a sufficient distance apart to permit compression springs 28 and 29 to be interposed between the same and the pin 24. The positions of ythe pins 26 and 27 are adjusted by turning the thumb'disc 21 vand this disc isk held in adjusted position byv a plunger 30 which is mounted in a hole 31 in the head and which is pressed upwardly by a spring 32.

If the disc 21 is turned in an anti-clockwise direction, for instance, as indicated in Figure 4, the pin 27 puts the spring 29 under tension, which in turn pushes on the pin 24 and causes the pawl to be swung in a corresponding direction until the teeth 19 are in position to engage with the teeth 9. The disc 21 will be held in this adjusted position on account of the friction due to the spring plunger 30 pressing against the same. The pin 30 also acts as a stop to limit the movement of the disc when it is engaged by the pin 26. With the parts in this position, the vibration or swinging back and forth l of the handle 6 will cause the driving head to .be driven in an anti-clockwise direction, the

tension of the spring 29 serving to hold the pawl in proper engagement during such movement.

When it is desired to have the head rotate in the opposite direction the disc 21 is rturned in a clockwise direction as indicated in Figure 5, which releases the tension on the spring 29 and causes the spring 28 to pressagainst the pin 24 and to swing the pawl to its other operative position as will be readily understood from this iigure.

It will be noted that instead of utilizing teeth for the ratchet members, in someV instances knurling or roughing of the parts, -or even the friction between the ends of the pawl and the handle ring may be suicient to operate the head, andother changes may suggest themselves as coming within the scope of this in-y vention which I doA not wish to limit to the exact arrangement shown and described except as specified in the following claims inrwhich I claim. f y

1. In a ratchet wrench, the combination of a barrel having inwardlyr projecting teeth therein, a head rotatably mounted in the barrel, a pawl pivotally mounted in the head and having oppositely disposed engaging portions for engagement with the teeth whereby the head may be turned in opposite directions, a pin projecting from the pawl, an operating disc rotatably mounted on the head, pins projecting from said disc, springs interposed between the last named pins and the first named pin,v and a spring plunger'mounted in the head and engaging with the-disc foi` holding it in adjusted position.

2. A device of the character set forth, including a barrel, a driving headrotatably mounted in the barrel and having a reduced upper end providing a 'channel between the head and thev barrel, a double pawl arranged transversely of the head and pivotally mounted therein, said pawl having oppositely disposed portions for engagement respectively with thebarrel when in different adjusted positions, a manuallyoperable disc rotatablysecured to the head, a plunger in the head, a spring tending to urge the plunger against the disc to hold it in adjusted position, two posts secured to the disc and extending into saidchannel, a pin secured to the pawl and also extending into the channel and` springs in the channel interposed between the pin and the respective posts.

3. A device of the character set forth, comprising a cylinder, a handle arranged transversely thereof, a driving member rotatably mounted in the cylinder and having a reduced end which is substantially flush with one end of the cylinder, said member having a transverse slot therein, a double pawl pivotally mounted in the slot and adapted to engage with the inner Wall of the cylinder, an annular thumb piece rotatably mounted on the reduced end of the driving member and projecting out over the joint between said member and the cylinder, a spring-pressed plunger in the driving member engaging frictionally with the thumb piece to hold the same in adjusted position, a pin extending from the pawl into the space at the reduced end of the driving member, posts secured to the thumb piece and extending into said space and arranged at a distance apart and adapted to engage at times with the plunger for limiting the movement of the thumb piece and compression springs positioned in said space and coacting with the posts and pin for swinging the pawl to its respective operating positions. 1

4. A tool of the character set forth, including a barrel, a handle for said barrel, a head rotatably mounted in the barrel of substantially the same length as thebarrel and having means for engagement with articles to be turned, said head having a recess in the side thereof, means fer holding the head against longitudinal movement in the barrel, a shaft mounted in the head at a distance from the center and projecting through said recess, a doublefended pawl mounted on the shaft and arranged to swing in said recess, teeth on the end of the pawl for engagement with teeth-in the barrel, a disc at one end of the head projecting over the adjacent end of the barrel, means for securing the disc rotatably to the head, means engaging ldirectly with the disc for holding the disc in angularly adjusted position with respect to the head, and means coacting with the disc and the pawl for swinging the pawl' to its operative positions and holding the same yieldingly in engagement with the barrel.

5. A ratchet wrench including an annular member having a cylindrical bore with a toothed central portion, avturning'head rotatably mounted in said bore and having an annular groove therein, said annular member having a groove opposed to the groove in the head, a ring engaging with `said grooves for holding the head in position, an annular thumb piece rotatably secured to the head, a shaft mounted in said head, a double-ended pawl carried by said shaft and having the ends toothed to engage withk the toothed portion of the annular member, an annular recess in the head, an abutment eX- tending from the pawl into said recess, two abutments extending from the thumb piece into said recess, springs interposed between the abutments on the thumb piece and the abutment on the pawl, said springs being positioned in said annular recess, a detent arranged in the head and engaging frictionally with the thumb piece and adapted to hold the same against the tension of either of said first named springs, said detent also serving as a stop for said abutments to llimit the relative movement of the thumb piece with respect to the head.

THEODORE O. RUEB. 

